A Glossary: Castle Terminology

This castle glossary will name and define the parts of castle architecture, castle structure and construction, knights and warfare, and defense terms.
The terms are in English and German. The definitions are in English.

English Word

German Word

Definition

Abacus:

Unknown

The term that defines that flat portion on top of a capital.

Adulterine:

Unknown

The term that is used to define a castle built without royal permission when such permission is required.

Allure:

der Spaziergang

A walkway along the top of a wall.

Arcade:

der Bogengang

An arched covered passageway with columns or piers

Arch:

der Bogen

A typically curved structural member spanning an opening and serves as a wall support above doors and windows.

Armoury:

die Waffenkammerordas Waffenlageror das Zeughaus

A storehouse for the castle's weapons.

Arrow loops:

der Pfeil Schleifen die Schießscharte

A vertical narrow slit built into a wall through which arrows are shot.

Ashlar:

Unknown

Hewn squared and shaped blocks of building stones.

Atilliator:

Unknown

A skilled castle armory worker who made crossbows.

Bailey:

die Hoff

The outer courtyard or ward inside the castle walls used for outdoor activities.

Baluster:

der Baluster

A small column of wood or stone used to support a load.

Ballista

die Balliste

A siege machine that resembles a giant crossbow that is used to propel missiles at a target.

Balustrade:

die Balustradeordie Brüstung

A railing topping a row of balusters placed along a walkway or an outside stairway.

Bar Hole:

das Stab Loch

A hole in a wall used to receive the door bolt.

Barbican:

der Schießscharte der Wehrturm

An outer defense work of a castle, often a heavily fortified gate tower.

Bartizan:

der Scharwachtturm, Bergfried

An overhanging wall-mounted turret projecting from the flank of a tower or a wall, usually placed at the top the walls.

Bastion:

der Bastion

A small enclosed tower placed at the edge of a curtain wall
and used primarily as watch or guard post.

Batter:

der Teig

That part of the outside base of the curtain wall which is sloped at
a 45º angle. It is used to bounce rocks off of into attacking forces.

Battering Ram:

die Sturmram der Rammbock

A heavy pole used for knocking down gates and walls.

Battlements:

die Zinnen

Parapits with crenelations and merlons (raised part) forming a narrow
outer wall along the curtain walls.

Battice:

Unknown

A timber tower or a projecting wooden hoarding or gallery.

Berm:

der Böschungsabsatz

A narrow shelf, pathway, or ledge typically at the top or bottom of a slope.
Also a mound or wall of earth.
Also, that strip of ground between the outer curtain wall on the moat.

Blockhouse:

das Blockhausordie Blockhütte:

A timber or stone structure with arrow loops used for defense.

Bolt:

der Bolz der Bolzen

A Shaft or missile designed to be shot from a crossbow or catapult.

Bolt

die Schraube der Riege

A wooden or metal bar used to secure a door or gate.

Boss:

der Schlussstein

An ornamental projecting block of stone or wood. The keystone of an arch, usually of granite stone.

Breastwork:

der Brustwehr

A low wall or railing used to protect the edge of a platform, roof, or bridge.
Also, sometimes a temporary fortification used in the defense of the castle during battle.

Bessumer:

Unknown

Wooden beams used to support a project from a wall.

Butt joint:

das Kolben Gelenk

A joint made by fastening the parts together end-to-end without overlap. Often
reinforced by wrapping or bolting.

Buttery:

die Getränkekammerdie Vorratskammer

The storeroom for wine and other beverages.

Buttress:

der Strebepfeiler

A projection of masonry or wood used to enforce and strengthen a wall.
Type 1: Flying buttresses are a narrow arched bridge built against the wall.
Type 2: Pilaster buttresses gradually recede into the wall as it ascends.

Castle:

die Burg

From the Latin castellum; A fortress, and castrum; A fortified place: A large fortified residence or a fortified set of buildings.

Cap Stone:

der Schlussstein

A coping stone, used in the covering course of a wall or placed upon a post.

Capital:(Stonework)

das Kapital, orDer Hauptstadt Stein

The uppermost member of a column or pilaster crowning the shaft and taking the weight the entablature.

Castellan:

der Castellan

The official in charge of a castle.

Catapult:

Die Wurf Maschine, or Steinschleuder

A type of siege machine designed to throw large heavy stones or missiles at a target. (See Trebuchet)

Cesspit:

der Senkgrube

The area where the contents of the garderobes was collected.

Chamber:

die Kammer

An arched roof. A bedroom. A hall for meetings

Chapel:

die Kapelle

A private place of worship inside the castle walls.

Chamfer:

die Schrägkante

To shape the edges of two stones such that they will fit
closely together.

Chevron:

der Sparren

A pattern having the shape of a V or an inverted V.
A heraldry charge consisting of two diagonal stripes meeting at an
angle usually with the point up.

Cistern

die Zisterne, or Der Wasserspeicher

A storage place for water.

Citadel:

der Festung

A fortress. A heavily fortified military castle.

Cloister:

der Kloster

A covered passage way on the inside of a courtyard.
One side is the courtyard wall and the other side is an open arcade.

Cobblestone:

der Pflasterstein

A naturally accurring rounded stone larger than a pebble and smaller than a boulder.
Such stones may be used in paving a walkway, a floor, or in other areas of construction.

Coffer:

das Kasten

Recessed ornamental panels placed in the ceiling or vault.

Column:

Die SaüleDie Spalte

A cylindrical supporting pillar, usually made of stone or wood, that supports a heavy structure.

Concentric:

Das konzentrische

Two set of high defensive walls, with one totally inside of the other.
And with both enclosed areas having a common center.

Coping:

das Bewältigen

The covering course of a wall usually with a sloping outward top.

Cope Stone:

Das Bewältigen Stein

A stone shaped for and used for covering the top course of a wall.
Note: Sometimes Slate stone or fired clay tiles were used. In other cases wooden shakes were used
especially where crenelations and merlons needed covering.

Corbel:

der Kragstein

An architectural member that projects from within a wall and supports a timber beam or a joist for
a floor or a roof joist or rafter.

Corbeling:

der Kragstein werk

Corbel work or the construction of a corbel

Counter-weight:

der Gegengewicht

An equivalent weight or force. Important for lifting heavy objects, such as a drawbridge or a portcullis.

Cord:

die Schnur

A long slender flexible material consisting of several twisted strands woven or twisted together.
Nearly as important as string in building a castle.
A measure of volume of wood; 4ft wide, 4ft high, and 8ft long. Or 128 cubic feet.

Crenels

Unknown

The open spaces between the merlons on an battlement fortifications.
Also some are known and used as embrasures.

Crenelation:

Unknown

That which the crenels and merlins form as an battlement fortifications

Cupola:

der Kuppel

A rounded vault resting on a usually circular base and forming a roof or ceiling.
A small structure built on a roof.

Curtain wall:

die Aussenmauer, orDie Vorhang Wand

A castle wall enclosing the entire castle or a courtyard.

Daub:

der Schmieren

A mixture of clay, straw and hair, used to cover house walls made of wattle.

Donjon (Keep):

der Wohnturm

The stronghold of a castle. Where the castle's owner lived.

Drawbridge:

der Zugbrücke

A wooden bridge, capable of being raised or lowered, used to open a passageway or gate.

Dungeon:

der Kerkerdas Verlies

The jail, usually a ground level in one of the towers.

Embrasure:

die Schiessscharte

An opening in the merlins through which arrows or bolts may be fired.

Escalade:

die Erstürmung

To scale or climb over the castle walls and fortifications.

Finial:

die Kreuzblume

A usually foliated ornamentation forming a crowning decorative detail.

Forebuilding

Unknown

A structure that projects from a keep to house the entrance stairway.

Foundation:

das Fundamentdie Grundlagedie Gründung

The base of a structure that provides stability for and supports the entire weight of a castle structure.

FoundationStone

der Grundstein

The first stones laid to form the foundation for a wall, pillar or column.

Gallery

die Galerie

An outdoor roofed balcony used for patrolling the castle walls.
A corridor or room devoted to the exhibition of castle portraits and treasured trophies.

Garderobe:

der Kleiderschrank

A clothes closet or clothing storeroom or the private chamber of a nobleman or a royal person.

Garrison:

die Besatzung

A permanent base or lodging for troops.

Gate:

das Gatter, or Das Tor

Large heavy wooden doors to control the entry into a castle.

Gate House:

das Tor Haus

The complex of gates, portcullis, drawbridges, and barriers built to control the
entrances to a castle.

Hall:

die Halleder Saal

The principal living quarters and meeting room of a castle.

Hoarding:

das Horten der Bauzaun der überdachte Wehrgang

A covered gallery built on or near the top and outside of a curtain wall or tower to defend against attackers.

Inner Ward:

der inner Aussenhof

The inner Bailey or courtyard of a castle.

Keep:

der Wohnturn, der Bergfried

The strongest tower of a castle, and usually the tallest.

Kennel:

der Zwinger, der Hundepension

A place to keep animals, usually hunting dogs.

Keystone:

der Keilsteinder Mittelstein

The important center stone of a stone arch.

Knight:

der Ritter

A mounted warrior who served his lord during feudal times. Also, a member of an Order or Society.

Knight's Castle:

die Ritterburg

A castle owned by a knight.

Knight's Hall:

Die Halle des Ritters

A large room or chamber witin a castle in which knights gather for meals, meetings, and to plan their next activities.

Knight's Quarters:

das Ritterhaus

Knights House or Building.

Latrine:

die Feldtoilettedie Latrine

A receptacle used for a toilet

Lookout Tower:

der Wachturn

A carefully placed guard or watch tower with a commanding view of a strategic area or place.